Teams & Riders Alberto Contador Discussion Thread

[Miburo]

Indeed killer will beat Froome but Alberto will beat Killer

Miburo maybe you are right and this will motivate Alberto, but for TDF he will also need strength, motivation alone isn't gonna win him the race.

But it can be key. Ask Andy

 

[Publicus]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/sport/i...onsports_February216.xml&section=nationsports

good read

But why did they put Alberto in between two huge guys lol

And Bjarne with glasses I think Alberto would look sexy with glasses (cool glasses not nerdy ones)

He is wafer thin

 

[Afrank]

Keep in mind that Froome was the guy who waited in La Toussuire for Wiggins. Would a real champion do that when he knows he can win the tour?

Getting attacked in each stage race he races like in Oman. It's scary. You almost want to give the jersey to Contador so that you're done with it.

If Contador was in Froomes situation, where he had just shown the previous year that he may be able to contend in GT's; then yes, Contador would do the same thing that Froome was forced to do.

To the second part: nah, it doesn't make you want to give up the jersey, it just makes the leaders performance all the more impressive. Even with Contador attacking them day after day, they can still hold onto that jersey (and even win the stage).

 

[Miburo]

If Contador was in Froomes situation, where he had just shown the previous year that he may be able to contend in GT's; then yes, Contador would do the same thing that Froome was forced to do.

To the second part: nah, it doesn't make you want to give up the jersey, it just makes the leaders performance all the more impressive. Even with Contador attacking them day after day, they can still hold onto that jersey (and even win the stage).

This is just Oman. The pressure will be different in more important races.

 

[airstream]

This is just Oman. The pressure will be different in more important races.

I see you are not too enthusiastic towards Froome too and catch at a straw to try to belittle his chances. Btw, Miburo, it is a great idea to accuse the man, who is on the huge rise and on the threshold of great achievements, of lack of mental strength. Last hope to reassure yourself?

This is just Oman. The pressure will be different in more important races.

Hell, if Contador had won this race, you could have been the last to say 'It is just Oman'. You would say: Look, look! Nothing changes. Nobody has chance" or something like that.

 

[Miburo]

I see you are not too enthusiastic towards Froome too and catch at a straw to try to belittle his chances.

Nope, he's the only threat for Contador. As you know I value Contador very high, thus saying Froome is the only threat for him is a pretty big compliment, isn't it?

I just want to say that I wonder how his mental state is when under pressure. What's wrong with it? Isn't that important in a GC like the tour?

 

[airstream]

Nope, he's the only threat for Contador. As you know I value Contador very high, thus saying Froome is the only threat for him is a pretty big compliment, isn't it?

I just want to say that I wonder how his mental state is when under pressure. What's wrong with it? Isn't that important in a GC like the tour?

Mental strength is a very sandy platform. Purito could sprint and climb keeping up other's initiavive. Froome is capable of anything. Mental strength can play a big role only in case of diabolically tight contention. What one is able to do on the road is way more significant.

 

[LaFlorecita]

You do understand though that he also lost because of his enthusiastic riding style? He behaved like a rookie sometimes. Attacking, dropping everyone, waiting, getting caught back, almost doing a track stand, attacking again, and run out of gas. It was more than great to watch, don't get me wrong, but he could have taken a more efficient approach. It's only february, it's hard race full gas and still win. Of course this was just Oman, a nice opportunity to test the legs and the competition, but he didn't exactly ride a perfect race - from a results point of view. Froome kept his cool, didn't try to match Alberto in his racing, launched an attack at the moment Contador noticed it's only February and won the race.

He was just having fun..... Nah he was trying to win the race. He just can't ride the way Froome does, he needs to attack. He can't do the - get dropped, catch leader, get dropped, catch leader, repeat 5 times, get dropped, go full throttle in the last km in a "all or nothing", "death or glory" attempt.

 

[Miburo]

Mental strength is a very sandy platform. Purito could sprint and climb keeping up other's initiavive. Froome is capable of anything. Mental strength can play a big role only in case of diabolically tight contention. What one is able to do on the road is way more significant.

Look at Andy. Don't you think that the lack of mental strength is a big reason why all this is happening?

A lot of people who were in the same position as Contador was in tour '09 would do it differently for sure. And that is something you can't blame on the clinic

Contador will never give up and he might just attack 60 km before the finish, not even waiting for the last climb. That unpredictability is one of his best weapons.

But I don't think Contador needs it though. I think he can be back at Giro '11 form. So yeah

 

[airstream]

Look at Andy. Don't you think that the lack of mental strength is a big reason why all this is happening?

A lot of people who were in the same position as Contador was in tour '09 would do it differently for sure. And that is something you can't blame on the clinic

Contador will never give up and he might just attack 60 km before the finish, not even waiting for the last climb. That unpredictability is one of his best weapons.

But I don't think Contador needs it though. I think he can be back at Giro '11 form. So yeah

I think Froome will show a better form than Contador in the Giro. Let's see.

 

[Miburo]

I think Froome will show a better form than Contador in the Giro. Let's see.

Than that form?

So now you're implying Contador can get that form? I thought you always denied that.

On what do you base yourself that Froome can be better than that Contador?

 

[Forunculo]

I think Froome will show a better form than Contador in the Giro. Let's see.

Can you elaborate, why?

 

[Miburo]

If anyone still thought Airstream is credible, well yeah he just blew it

Unless Sky has another swimming coach that I don't know off of course.

 

[LaFlorecita]

You of all people should not go there

Care to explain Zaman? The you of all people part.

He is wafer thin :.eek:

He needs to lose 2.5kg though Fat Berto. BTW I thought it was funny that froomegirl said the dog needs to lose 2/3kg ie the same amount of kgs Alberto has to shed. She been reading Berto's comments?

Look at Andy. Don't you think that the lack of mental strength is a big reason why all this is happening?

A lot of people who were in the same position as Contador was in tour '09 would do it differently for sure. And that is something you can't blame on the clinic ;-)

Contador will never give up and he might just attack 60 km before the finish, not even waiting for the last climb. That unpredictability is one of his best weapons.

But I don't think Contador needs it though. I think he can be back at Giro '11 form. So yeah

I hope he can get back to Giro 2011/Tour2009 level that would be entertaining

 

[LaFlorecita]

Miburo I see you changed your avi but you should have one where Alberto attacks dog. In TA we will see who is the puppy.

 

[JimPanzen]

...BTW I thought it was funny that froomegirl said the dog needs to lose 2/3kg ie the same amount of kgs Alberto

With froomegirl you mean his gf? If so...this will not be the last time this chick will barge in with some douchy comments. We all saw this in last year's TdF. She is Froome's mouthpiece for psychological warfare I think it's a strange mix of support for Froome and need for attention.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

With froomegirl you mean his gf? If so...this will not be the last time this chick will barge in with some douchy comments. We all saw this in last year's TdF. She is Froome's mouthpiece for psychological warfare I think it's a strange mix of support for Froome and need for attention.

Yea, but she is kinda hot so it is ok

 

[LaFlorecita]

With froomegirl you mean his gf? If so...this will not be the last time this chick will barge in with some douchy comments. We all saw this in last year's TdF. She is Froome's mouthpiece for psychological warfare I think it's a strange mix of support for Froome and need for attention.

Yea she's pretty ridiculous, also her tweeting the us tv ad for la vuelta which I thought was strange since Froome showed a lot of respect for Alberto.

 

[JimPanzen]

Yea she's pretty ridiculous, also her tweeting the us tv ad for la vuelta which I thought was strange since Froome showed a lot of respect for Alberto.

What's the story behind this? I think I missed that.

 

[spalco]

Than that form?

So now you're implying Contador can get that form? I thought you always denied that.

On what do you base yourself that Froome can be better than that Contador?

That Giro was extremely impressive, and if it were ever possible to prove that hypothetical one way or another, I would bet on Contador "beating" anyone in the current peloton that year anyway. But if you look at the GC that year, other than Rodriguez, who of the other contenders in that race (if you could even call them that) ever pushed Contador the same way it looks like Froome will this year? What's Scarponi's best result in the Tour de France?

 

[LaFlorecita]

What's the story behind this? I think I missed that.

Vuelta tv ad "return of cycling's most controversial rider" with clips of chain gate and things like that and she tweeted a link to it just before the start of la vuelta.

 

[airstream]

Than that form?

So now you're implying Contador can get that form? I thought you always denied that.

On what do you base yourself that Froome can be better than that Contador?

Dear Miburo, look. Saying 'that form' apparently imply that Contador's superiority over the rest guys, right? I strongly disagree with such a formulation. That 6 minute advantage is a product of series of circumstances. Contador's great form was one of them, the main one, but not the only one. But you don't really care badly prepared Nibali, weak Menchov and ill Rodriguez, do you? Let's have a look at the 2012 Tour then. The competition was crushed by Sky in very similar manner. But what are you saying first? Rather! Weak field, ill Evans, miserable Menchov and so on. If based on your criterion [sentence 1], I equate Contador's the 2011 Giro form and Wiggins' and Froome's the 2012 TdF form, you will simply ridicule me, because Alberto's domination is all in the day's work whereas Sky triuph is something strange, illogical and episodic as many people hope.

Straight after the Tour I said that Froome is a climber of Contador's and Schleck's calibre, however many forum guys started ridiculing my opinion. Well, let's check.

As to that form, I just don't know. Form can be interpreted in many ways and has no absolute yardsticks. If you measure all the things with 'whether Contador drops all contenders or not' thingy, it is a delusion. So the 2011 Giro form doesn't guarantee him a victory, because Froome is able to push even bigger watts. But if Froome wins the Tour and you say 'Contador was off-form obviously', it will look absurd, because the guy have all posibilies to prepare and model his form for July the way he needs.

My point is Froome is able to win the Tour quite confidently, though in this case you will regard this situation differently, like 'off top form Contador', 'Contador allowed someone to win', 'Froome got lucky', etc etc etc.

Look at Andy. Don't you think that the lack of mental strength is a big reason why all this is happening?

Andy has lack of usual professionalism and he has cooled down to cycling in a way maybe. It is a bit different.

As you know I value Contador very high, thus saying Froome is the only threat for him is a pretty big compliment, isn't it?

Not, to me that is just disrespect to other contenders.

A lot of people who were in the same position as Contador was in tour '09 would do it differently for sure. And that is something you can't blame on the clini

Disagree. Contador wasn't alone. Sponsors and Kazakhstan supported him a lot. Yes, he felt a certain discomfort because teammates supported Lance. But it was in the nature of an inside-of-the-team atmosphere. On the road guys helped him and Lance equally. So that's not a reason that could restrain the rider who was so much stronger physically.

But I don't think Contador needs it though. I think he can be back at Giro '11 form.

It is impossible in the Tour. In 4 Tours Contador gained '20 at Arcalis and '45 at Verbier, going solo. Teams are very strong and no one can gain a lot on the climbs. Even Armstrong could not do it, without considering the 2002 Tour.

 

[Miburo]

As to that form, I just don't know. Form can be interpreted in many ways and has no absolute yardsticks. If you measure all the things with 'whether Contador drops all contenders or not' thingy, it is a delusion. So the 2011 Giro form doesn't guarantee him a victory, because Froome is able to push even bigger watts. But if Froome wins the Tour and you say 'Contador was off-form obviously', it will look absurd, because the guy have all posibilies to prepare and model his form for July the way he needs.

My point is Froome is able to win the Tour quite confidently, though in this case you will regard this situation differently, like 'off top form Contador', 'Contador allowed someone to win', 'Froome got lucky', etc etc etc.
Yes, he felt a certain discomfort because teammates supported Lance. But it was in the nature of an inside-of-the-team atmosphere. On the road guys helped him and Lance equally. So that's not a reason that could restrain the rider who was so much stronger physically.

Ok show me the numbers. You make a claim Froome is more impressive, thus show me the numbers.

Btw if I remember correctly laflo posted here a few days ago some very impressive wattage numbers of Contador on the etna. Let's compare that with what you got for froome

It seems now you accepted that Contador can be back at his former level of the giro but Froome will even surpass that. Kinda flip floppy isn't it?

Let's compare this. Froome wasn't great in the vuelta because of the tour, right? He couldn't do anything anymore in the last week. Now compare that to Contador in the tour of 2011 after riding an insanely hard giro where without any bad luck he could have easily reached the podium and i still think he might have won it but would be tough. And the tour had a stronger wider field than the vuelta. Go ahead.

Now when the hell did Lance helped out Contador on the road? Contador has done more for lance than the reserve. He even gave up a stage victory at the ventoux for it.

 

[airstream]

Ok show me the numbers. You make a claim Froome is more impressive, thus show me the numbers.

Btw if I remember correctly laflo posted here a few days ago some very impressive wattage numbers of Contador on the etna. Let's compare that with what you got for froome

I see, you discreetly missed the 1st part of my post. So I guessed your standarts of 'form', true?

I don't have numbers, I base on my viewer perception solely. Again, for the 100th time, if you rely only on numbers, why the hell you argue with anyone and open up indefinite polls? You should just have no doubt that Contador will win.

I just see that Froome has all the capacities to beat anyone.

It seems now you accepted that Contador can be back at his former level of the giro but Froome will even surpass that. Kinda flip floppy isn't it?

I'm asking to reply to paragraph 1 of my first post. Then we will continue discussion.

Now when the hell did Lance helped out Contador on the road? Contador has done more for lance than the reserve. He even gave up a stage victory at the ventoux for it.

I was saying the team helped its leaders [Contador, Armstrong] in equal measure.


Form is not only a visual impression. Is it so difficult to understand? A rider can be prepared perfectly but hit the toughest possible resistance, because others are prepared brilliantly too. Why do you ignore it SO defiantly?

 

[Miburo]

I don't have numbers, I base on my viewer perception solely.

This is what he said a few minutes ago:

because Froome is able to push even bigger watts.

Classic Airstream.